The weight of the galaxy's troubles pressed in upon Niynx's heart, and doubts swirled within his mind like a tempestuous storm. Seeking solace, he closed his eyes, his hands resting gently on his knees, and reached out through the Force to call for help...
Deep Space
Asteroid Field Near Kuar System
Aboard The Little Minnow
In the deep space between Kuar and Coruscant, buried within a field of asteroids and lit only by the eerily ghost-like-glow of the nearby Altair Nebula, a derelict freighter class starship wallowed lifeless through the darkness. There were no running lights, no signs of life, and around the starship lay chunks of detritus invisible but for glittering moments as it caught the nebula's reflection and revealed laser-burnt metal, tossing itself end over end in a constant and slow mimicry of the asteroids around it.
Inside, awash in a zero-G chaos of floating personal items and memorabilia, wild hair twisting and reaching as if underwater, Jedi Padawan Niynx Ioune found himself consumed by fear, sadness, and uncertainty.
The Little Minnow's artificial gravity systems having been shut down hours earlier and his legs crossed in the traditional pose for Jedi meditation, Niynx levitated at a fixed point within the sentimental debris swirling around him, as if he were his own
Galactic Centre and the rogue flimsies, datapads and spare clothing around him were his planetary systems.
In the depths of his meditation, the Padawan pondered the nature of fear. It was an emotion he had been taught to confront and overcome, yet it seemed to grow stronger with each passing day. Doubts gnawed at his spirit, questioning his abilities, his purpose, and his worthiness of the Jedi path.
In the many hours of his waiting, Niynx's thoughts wandered to the trials which lay before him. Even still, even as he sat amidst the utter wreckage of defeat, he knew that the battles he'd faced until now were but a fraction of what awaited him in the vast expanses of the galaxy, and indeed in his future. Still, the feelings of loss that threatened to envelop him seemed overwhelming, and he wondered if he possessed the strength to resist.
Yet even in the depths of his despair, a shrine of hope remained. A whisper in the recesses of his mind reminded him of the teachings of La T'vil, his newly deceased master. She had instilled in him the virtues of courage, resilience, and the indomitable spirit of the Jedi. As he continued to meditate, Niynx realized that his plea for help was not a sign of weakness, as he had feared, but a testament to his strength. In reaching out through the Force, he sought the wisdom and guidance of the Jedi who came before him, as well as La T'vil, bound by a shared commitment to uphold justice and defend peace in the galaxy. With each breath, he allowed the tendrils of fear to dissipate, replacing them with a renewed determination. He embraced the notion that fear was not an enemy to be vanquished, but a companion to be acknowledged and understood. It was a reminder that he was Kiffar, susceptible to the doubts and uncertainties that plagued all beings, and just as able to rise above them in turn.
Through the Force, he sought a connection to more even than his Master, alone, to the collective wisdom of the entire Jedi Order, drawing strength from their teachings, their triumphs, and their resilience. He found solace in the knowledge that he was not alone, that there were others who had faced similar struggles and emerged stronger for it.
<< This is Master Noble, I received your distress call. >>
Niynx's eyes writhed as if dreaming, then shot open. In an instant, the harmony of the Force in display around him was shattered, and objects which had been caught up in his meditative pull, orbiting him peacefully, began careening from wall to wall or gathering in thick clusters within
The Minnow's packed sleeping cubbies. Someone had come! Had he heard that correctly? No, not even
someone, Master Noble
herself. His breath escaped him in a visible cloud and he pushed off a bulkhead towards the central communications station. Sure enough, as he neared the station a blinking red light flared once more from the comms panel, indicating that yet another short ranged transmission was incoming.
<< Tell me where you are and what's wrong, and I'll do my best to help. >>
Screens flared to life around tapping fingers, catching Niynx's face, his chin, in blue and golden under-glows. System alerts flared to life and were silenced shortly thereafter. Error messages reared up in alarming numbers and were summarily dismissed. The low base of internal engines coming to life sounded just moments before the return of
The Minnow's artificial gravity, as well as other life support systems, and Niynx dropped quietly to the ground. By contrast, all which had previously floated through the starship's belly clattered noisily back to the durasteel flooring underfoot. Niynx tapped for comms.
"This is Padawan Niynx Ioune requesting aid. My ship's been damaged and I cannot fly. I repeat my ship's been damaged. My last logged coordinates were 12:15:18, but telemetry was knocked offline when I sustained damage and I cannot verify to what degree my current location has changed." Releasing another pent up breath, Niynx dared to smile. Master Noble had come for him. He was saved.
Valery Noble
Padawan Errant
